Dialectal Behavioral
Therapy (DBT)
DBT is a psychotherapy developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan and her colleagues at the University of Washington to treat Borderline Personality Disorder and other disorders of emotion regulation. DBT combines behavior therapy, cognitive therapy, and both eastern and western contemplative practices. DBT has been extensively researched and shown to be effective in reducing impulsive, self destructive behaviors such as suicide attempts, gestures, and thoughts; cutting and other non-suicidal self injurious behavior; substance abuse; angry outbursts; and disordered eating. DBT helps individuals gain control of their behaviors and emotions; develop deep understanding of their emotion, thought, and behavior patterns; and replace maladaptive, self defeating behaviors with skillful, adaptive coping.